Children’s Health Programs
Children’s Health Programs
Dr. Green is a licensed pediatrician and understands the nutrition children need to grow. She also understands the needs of special needs children and the role nutrition plays in their day to day activities. Children with ADHD, for example, often benefit greatly from high-protein meals in the morning. Some children are misdiagnosed and placed on medications instead of exploring healthy alternatives that support focus without medications that may carry long-term risks.
Here are a few topics and resources to help you understand these issues so you can make a more informed decision about a nutritional health plan for your child. Dr. Green will customize a plan for your child and teach them how to make better food choices. This can include foods kids already enjoy, like pancakes, shakes, and ice cream, prepared in healthier ways.
Overweight Kindergartners May Face Increased Risk for Teen Obesity
AMA, American Medical Association, January 30, 2014
Major U.S. newspapers and medical sources covered a study finding that many children who are overweight in kindergarten may become obese by early adolescence. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, reported that about one third of children who were overweight in kindergarten were obese by eighth grade. It also noted that nearly every child who was very obese remained that way.
A study of about 7,700 children found the largest increase in obesity occurred between first and third grade. Approximately 13% of children were obese in first grade, compared with 19% in third grade. The CDC has reported that roughly one third of young people are overweight or obese, and the percentage of elementary-school children who are obese is about 18%.
The report also highlighted that obesity rates increased across multiple groups from kindergarten through eighth grade. By eighth grade, a higher percentage of Black and Hispanic children had become obese compared to white children and children of other races.
An accompanying editorial suggested the findings support early intervention, focusing on children’s environments and early-life systems to prevent obesity.
ADHD, Are Kids Being Misdiagnosed?
When a child struggles with attention, focus, or behavior, there are many possible causes. Similar symptoms can come from different conditions, which is why a thorough evaluation matters. A quality assessment looks at a broad range of information before a diagnosis is made.
Understanding what is really behind a behavior is critical because the diagnosis changes the appropriate treatment. For example, ADHD medications will not help if a child’s inattention or disruptive behavior is driven by anxiety rather than ADHD. When a treatment does not work, a good clinician will reexamine the diagnosis and gather more information before continuing down the wrong path.
Can Breakfast Make Kids Smarter?
February 5, 2013
Research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing found that children who regularly ate breakfast on a near-daily basis had significantly higher full scale, verbal, and performance IQ scores.
In a study of 1,269 six-year-old children in China, children who did not eat breakfast regularly scored lower across multiple IQ measures compared to children who often or always ate breakfast. This finding remained even after adjusting for several sociodemographic factors.
Researchers also noted that irregular breakfast habits are often associated with other unhealthy behaviors and lifestyle patterns. Childhood is a key period where dietary and lifestyle habits are formed, and these patterns can affect both short-term and long-term outcomes.
